Yer diapers disposable diapers and disposable diapers with water proof la

ABSTRACT

A diaper which is capable of providing a readily visible indication when wet includes an inner layer of absorbent material, a layer carrying a printed pattern, and at least one outer layer which is of sufficient density as to conceal the printed pattern when the diaper is dry while rendering the printed pattern readily visible when the diaper is wet.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,759,261

Wang 1 1 Sept. 18, 1973 [5 DIAPERS, DISPOSABLE DIAPERS ANI) 3,675,6547/1972 Baker et al. 128/287 wiggifiig z tfi g FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 1,355,018 2/1964 France 128/284 [76] Inventor: Rong-ShuangWang, 24-A Gate House Apts., Beverly, N.J. 08010 [22] Filed: Mar. 9,1972 [21] Appl. No.: 233,160

[52] U.S. Cl. 128/287 [51] Int. Cl. A611 13/16 [58] Field of Search128/284, 287

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,636,952 1/1972 George128/287 3,663,348 5/1972 Liloia et a1 128/284 Primary Examiner-CharlesF. Rosenbaum Attorney-Dexter N. Shaw [57] ABSTRACT A diaper which iscapable of providing a readily visible indication when wet includes aninner layer of absorbent material, a layer carrying a printed pattern,and at least one outer layer which is of sufficient density as toconceal the printed pattern when the diaper is dry while rendering theprinted pattern readily visible when the diaper is wet.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures DIAPERS, DISPOSABLE DIAPERS AND DISPOSABLEDIAPERS WITH WATER-PROOF LAYER The present invention relates to diapers,and more particularly, the present invention relates to diapers whichare capable of providing a readily visible indication when they are wet.

It is known that adults sometimes have difficulty in determining whetheror not a diaper on a baby is wet or dry without disturbing the baby, andif the baby is asleep, it may be awakened inadvertently. According, adiaper which is capable of providing a readily visible signal when wetand in need of being changed is highly desirable.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the presentinvention to provide a diaper having novel means for providing a readilyvisible indication when wet so that an adult can tell whether or not thediaper needs to be changed without disturbing a baby wearing the diaper.

More specifically, the present invention provides a diaper whichpossesses the outward appearance of an ordinary diaper when dry butwhich displays a readily visible pattern when wet. The diaper includesan inner layer of absorbent material, a carrier layer of material onwhich the pattern is printed and which is superimposed on the innerlayer, and an outer layer overlying the printed carrier layer. Thecarrier layer is preferably of a light color, and the printed matter isof a color which contrasts therewith. The outer layer is of alightcolored material and is of sufficient density as to conceal theprinted matter when dry while permitting the printed matter to bereadily visible when the outer layer is wet. An adult is thereby able todetermine whether or not the diaper needs to be changed simply byinspecting the diaper without disturbing its wearer.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention should become apparent from the following description whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a diaper embodying the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the area enclosed by brokenlines in FIG. 1 but with layers of the diaper peeled away to exposeprinted matter on one layer; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.1.

Referring now to the drawing, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a diaper lembodying the present invention. The diaper has the outward appearanceof a conventional diaper when it is dry; however, the diaper 10 iscapable of providing a readily visible display or signal when it is wet.As a result, an adult is able to determine whether or not the diaper 10needs to be changed simply by inspecting the outside of the diaper 10without the necessity of disturbing a baby wearing the same.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the diaper 10 is preferably of the disposabletype and comprises a plurality of layers of cloth or paper materialunderneath an outermost layer 11 of translucent water-imperviousmaterial. As may be seen in FIG. 3, the diaper 10 has an innermost layer12 which is normally disposed against the body of the baby in thecustomary manner, and an inner layer of absorbent material 13superimposed on the innermost layer 12 for absorbing the babysexcrement. A

conventional disposable diaper would include the lay ers 11 and 12 andI3, and the diaper would function in the customary manner. Such a diapermay be termed a disposable diaper with a waterproof layer (DDWL). ofcourse, it should be understood that the present invention may beincorporated in conventional washable diapers or disposable diaperswithout waterproof layers.

According to the present invention, the diaper 10 is provided with meansfor providing a readily visible display or signal when it is wet. Forthis purpose, a carrier layer of material 14 is superimposed on theabsorbent layer 13, and a pattern 15 is imprinted on the carrier layer14. As may be seen in FIG. 2, the pattern 15 may include floral patternsor the like, and the color of the printed pattern 15 is selected tocontrast with the color of the underlying carrier layer 14. Preferably,the printed pattern 15 is dark relative to the carrier layer 14, and itis desirable for the colors of the printed pattern 15 to be insolubleand otherwise unaffected by excrement, including urine.

In order to mask the printed pattern 15 when the diaper 10 is dry, whilepermitting the printed matter 15 to appear when the diaper 10 is wet, atleast one outer layer 16 and preferably a plurality of layers or sheetsof loose and light cloth, paper, or paper like material 16 and 17,depending upon the density of the material forming each layer, coversthe carrier layer 14 and conceals the pattern 15. The color of thematerial forming the sheets 16 and 17 is preferably light relative tothe pattern 15 and, in the present instance, the pattern 15 is dark soas to contrast with the sheets 16 and 17. It is noted that the pattern15 may be printed on either the inside or the outside of the carrierlayer 14. The outer layers 16 and 17 also absorb excrement as does theinnermost layers 12 and 13. By virtue of this structure, the outerlayers 16 and 17 prevent the printed pattern 15 from being visible fromthe top or outside of the diaper 10 when the diaper 10 is dry; however,the layers l6 and I7 permit the pattern 15 to be readily visible fromoutside the diaper when the diaper 10 and particularly the outer layers16 and 17 are wet. Accordingly, an adult is able to determine whether ornot the diaper 10 needs to be changed simply by inspecting the diaperwithout disturbing the baby.

In view of the foregoing it should be apparent that there has now beenprovided an improved diaper which is capable of providing a readilyvisible indication when it is wet. The diaper preferably includes atleast one inner layer, a carrier layer on the inner layer, and an outerlayer on the carrier layer, each of which is capable of absorbingexcrement. The present invention may be incorporated in diapers ofconventional construction materials.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been describedin detail, various modifications, alterations or changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention asdefined in the appended claims.

I claim:

I. A diaper capable of providing a readily visisble indication of awetness condition of the body underneath the diaper, comprising: acarrier layer of material, means providing at least one color on saidcarrier layer, and means covering said color with said color contrastingwith said covering means and said covering means being of a density forrendering said color substantially invisible when said covering means isdry while rendering said color visible when said covering menas is wet,tern is printed on said carrier layer. said color being dark relative tosaid carrier layer and 3. A diaper according to claim 2 wherein said onesaid covering means including an outer layer of relaside of said carrierlayer faces outwardly. tively light-colored material overlying said darkcolor 4. A diaper according to claim 2 wherein said one to mask saidcolor when said outer layer is dry, said 5 side of said carrier layerfaces inwardly. color being disposed in a pattern on one side of said 5.A diaper accroding to claim 1 wherein said covercarrier layer and beingwater insoluble, whereby the ing means is fabricated of a low-densitymaterial. condition of the body beneath the article may be 6. A diaperaccording to claim 1 including at least readily determined uponinspection of the covering one absorbent layer underlying said carrierlayer and a means. waterproof layer overlying said covering means.

2. A diaper according to claim 1, wherein said pat-

1. A diaper capable of providing a readily visisble indication of awetness condition of the body underneath the diaper, comprising: acarrier layer of material, means providing at least one color on saidcarrier layer, and means covering said color with said color contrastingwith said covering means and said covering means being of a density forrendering said color substantially invisible when said covering means isdry while rendering said color visible when said covering menas is wet,said color being dark relative to said carrier layer and said coveringmeans including an outer layer of relatively lightcolored materialoverlying said dark color to mask said color when said outer layer isdry, said color being disposed in a pattern on one side of said carrierlayer and being water insoluble, whereby the condition of the bodybeneAth the article may be readily determined upon inspection of thecovering means.
 2. A diaper according to claim 1, wherein said patternis printed on said carrier layer.
 3. A diaper according to claim 2wherein said one side of said carrier layer faces outwardly.
 4. A diaperaccording to claim 2 wherein said one side of said carrier layer facesinwardly.
 5. A diaper accroding to claim 1 wherein said covering meansis fabricated of a low-density material.
 6. A diaper according to claim1 including at least one absorbent layer underlying said carrier layerand a waterproof layer overlying said covering means.